The Konica Minolta Honda Team is already at Motegi ready to start the preparations for the Japanese GP which will be held this Sunday; the fifteenth round of the 2006 MotoGP World Championship, the last race of the long intercontinental tour. Makoto Tamada loves the Japanese track; it is his home circuit, he knows it very well and here he has always taken the podium since his debut in MotoGP in the 2003 season.
On that year, a doubtful disqualification, due to a contact with Sete Gibernau in the last phases of the race, deprived him of the joy of his first third place in MotoGP. In 2004 Makoto won here the second race in MotoGP and, last year finished third.
The Twin Ring, built in 1997 by Honda as a test circuit, presents all the necessary technical characteristics to try out engines and tyres in particular. It is situated north of Tokyo, in the Kanto district and hosts the Honda Museum with bikes and cars of all ages as well as a permanent driving school owned by the Japanese manufacturer.
The Konica Minolta Honda rider knows he has to face a hard event. He’ll feel the high pressure to do his best in front of his public, Honda and his Title Sponsor Konica Minolta. Considering the trend this season has got, Makoto will have to face a surely hard task. First of all he has to demonstrate himself to be the rider still able to win some MotoGP races.
Gianluca Montiron – Konica Minolta Honda General Director “The Japanese GP is for all of us a second home race, considering the many relationships linking us to Honda, KONICA MINOLTA and to Japan in general. We profited to move from Australia as soon the race was finished to visit our title sponsor KONICA MINOLTA. I want to come back from the GP of Motegi with clear ideas about the future of our way for the coming year, Makoto knows very well what this GP represents for us. Our target is, obviously, to obtain a good result as we did in the past. I’m sure Tamada will be top determined to give his best before his audience.”
Makoto Tamada – Konica Minolta Honda Rider“I can’t wait racing at Motegi. I’m at home, I love this circuit and here I also have a fantastic fan club supporting me. Regarding the GP, obviously, my aim is to make a good race and keep the trend I had in the latest years when I have always finished on the podium. I’d really like to make such a present to those people who are supporting me before this season comes to an end. Since Friday, together with my team, I’ll try to find the best Honda RC211V set up for this track in order to be immediately competitive.”
Giulio Bernardelle –konica Minolta Honda Technical Director“Motegi circuit is a well realized track from the technical point of view even if it does not have the same difficulties of other circuits here in Japan, first among all the circuit of Suzuka. Riders ride clockwise and the track main characteristic is to have five straight sectors MotoGP riders approach, exiting from slow speed corners they ride in first or second gear. Therefore, it is fundamental to have a good traction and a powerful engine able to get speediness very quickly. Brakings are absolutely demanding as well. A circuit properly created to put the bike technical aspects to the hard test.”
Related Linkswww.konicaminolta.com/motogp
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